Guiding stick and hoop toy



Aug. 21, 1962 H. w. FELSCH 3,049,833

GUIDING STICK AND HOOP TOY Filed Aug. 26. 1959 INVENTOR HENRY w. FELSCH AGENT 3,049,833 GUEING STICK AND HGOP TOY Henry W. Felsch, Box 279, Rte. 2, Orlando Park, Ill. Filed Aug. 26, 1959, Ser. No. 836,297 1 Claim. (Cl. 46220) This invention relates to amusement devices and, more particularly, to a manually operated assembly.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a manually operated guiding stick and driven hoop which will enable the operator to control the movement of the hoop along a sidewalk or the like for prolonged periods of time.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a guiding stick and hoop of the above type in which the guiding stick is provided with guide means for initially directing the hoop toward rolling engagement with the sidewalk, so that the game may be played 'without resorting to touching the hoop with the hands.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a guiding stick and hoop bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture, and efficient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a guiding stick forming a part of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the guiding stick shown in FIGURE 1 with a hoop positioned thereon in an initial position ready for use;

FIGURE 3 is a side view similar to FIGURE 2, showing the guiding stick equipped with a caster wheel, and showing the guiding stick in actual use pushing the hoop along a sidewalk.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, a guiding stick and hoop toy made in accordance with the present invention is shown to include a main shaft 12 having a ground engaging pad 14 secured to one end with a lower ground engaging surface 16 adapted to be moved relative to the sidewalk or other supporting surface upon of which the hoop is to be propelled. The main shaft 12 is provided with a longitudinal groove 18 within of which the hoop 20 is rollably supported for movement from the handle end of the shaft 12 toward the pad end thereof. If desired, a caster wheel 22 may be attached to the main shaft 12 adjacent to the pad 14.

It will now be recognized that in actual use, the hoop 20 is started in motion by first placing it between the 3,649,833 Patented Aug. 21, 1962 groove 18 of the shaft 12. By allowing gravity to move the hoop 20 downwardly onto the ground 15, with the shaft 12 in the inclined position shown in FIGURE 2, the hoop 20 will be initiated for movement along the ground level 15. After striking the ground level 15, the hoop will continue in motion simply by intermittent urges 0f the pad 14 which may be pushed into propelling engagement behind the hoop 20 by actuating the shaft 12 with one hand. In the arrangement shown in FIGURE 2, it is necessary to support the pad 14 slightly above the level of the ground during use, to prevent unnecessary wear of the lower edge 16 thereof. In the arrangement shown in FIGURE 3, the caster Wheel 22 supports the lower edge 16 of the pad 14 sufficiently above the ground to accomplish this purpose.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

An amusement device comprising in combination a main shaft, ground engaging means at one end of said main shaft, said ground engaging means comprising a caster wheel, a driven member, guide means integral with said main shaft supporting said driven member for forward movement toward said one end of said shaft from the opposite end thereof, said main shaft comprising a substantially rigid, elongated member having a handle portion at the opposite end thereof from the said ground engaging means, said ground engaging means further comprising a pad member integral with said one end of said shaft and having a lowermost surface portion adapted to move relative to the ground level, said driven member having a substantially circular peripheral portion for rollably engaging a ground level, said guide means comprising a longitudinal slot extending along the length of said main shaft from said handle portion to said ground engaging pad and said ground engaging means including said caster wheel rollably carried behind the front surface of said ground engaging pad and beneath said main shaft, said caster wheel supporting said lower edge of said pad above the ground level.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,361,944 Whaley Dec. 14, 1920 2,381,581 Entringer Aug. 7, 1945 2,433,496 Von Pein Dec. 30, 1947 2,783,586 Plummer Mar. 5, 1957 

